Method and apparatus for securing gun holster on belt

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for securing a holster to a belt worn by an individual. The holster includes straps that wrap around the belt to secure the holster to the belt. The straps each include an opening formed through the strap intermediate snap members attached to the strap. The opening interlock with a tooth extending from the holster such that the strap is secured in place on the belt.

This invention relates to holsters.

More particularly, the invention relates to a holster that is configured to be securely mounted on the belt of an individual.

A gun holster can include one or more straps that are mounted on the holster and that are wrapped around a user's belt in order to secure the holster on the belt. One such conventional strap 11 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Strap 17 includes the top member 12 of a snap. Top member 12 is mounted on one end 16 of strap 17. Strap 17 wraps around a user's belt in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, and top member 12 detachably snaps onto its associated bottom member 13. Rivet 14 secures the other end 15 of strap 17 to one flange or wing 40 of holster 10. The problem associated with strap 17 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The problem is that the strap pivots in the direction of arrow B about the snap 12 when the user attempts to remove a gun 60 from the holster 10. This pivoting of strap 17 makes the holster 10 unstable and makes it difficult to remove the gun 60.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an improved strap apparatus for anchoring in fixed position a holster to an individual's belt when the individual is withdrawing a weapon from the holster.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved holster system.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved holster that can be secured to a user's belt and maintain its position on the belt when a weapon is withdrawn from the holster.

These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a holster system including a strap anchoring system constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the mode of operation of the strap anchoring system of FIG. 1.

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, I provide, in combination with a belt worn by an individual, an improved gun holster. The holster includes a pocket shaped and dimensioned to receive removably a gun; first and second flanges extending outwardly from the pocket; and, first and second straps. Each strap includes a first end; a second end attached to a different one of the flanges; a first snap member attached to the first end; a second snap member attached to the strap intermediate the first and second end and operatively associated with and removably attachable to the first snap member; a tooth formed on a pair including one of the flanges and the strap; and, an opening formed in the strap intermediate the first snap member and the second snap member and shaped to receive the tooth. The strap is shaped and dimensioned to extend around the user's belt such that the first snap member is attached to the second snap member and the tooth extends into the opening.

Turning now the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustration thereof, and not by way of limitation of the invention, and in which like characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a holster system including a strap 27. Strap 27 includes the top member 22 of a snap. Top member 22 is mounted on one end 26 of strap 27. As shown in FIG. 2, strap 27 wraps around the belt 50 of a user, and top member 22 snaps onto its associated bottom member 23. Rivet 24 secures the other end 25 of strap 27 to flange or wing 41 of holster 10.

Tooth 30 is affixed to and downwardly extends from flange 41 or end 25 of strap 27. Aperture 31 is formed in and through strap 27 and is shaped and dimensioned to slidably removably receive tooth 30. Strap 27 is shaped and dimensioned, and, aperture 31 is formed through strap 27 intermediate members 22 and 23, such that when strap 27 is wrapped around a belt 50 worn by a user and member 22 is detachably snapped on to member 23, aperture 31 is in registration with and slidably receives tooth 30. Aperture 31 and tooth 30 collectively function to secure in position the portion of strap 27 overlaying rivet 24 and end 25 so that when a gun is removed from holster 10, strap 27 does not pivot and move in the direction of arrow B in the manner illustrated for strap 17. In use of the invention, strap 17 is replaced by a strap that is equivalent to strap 27 and utilizes a tooth mounted on flange 40 or on one end of the strap in the same manner that tooth 30 is mounted on flange 41 or on end 25 of strap 27. Straps 27 designed in accordance with the invention stabilize holster 10 on belt 50 and generally prevent holster 10 from moving independently of belt 50 when an individual draws a weapon out of holster 10.

In FIG. 1, end 25 is fixedly attached with rivet 24 to the bottom 32 of flange 41 and is at the front of flange 41. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, end 25 is fixedly attached to the top 33 and front of flange 41 with a rivet, and tooth 30 extends outwardly and upwardly from the upper edge 34 of flange 41 instead of from the bottom of flange 41. In FIG. 1, tooth 30 extends outwardly from the bottom of flange 41. When end 25 is attached with a rivet, stitching, or other fastening means to top 33 at the front of flange 41, then the portion of strap 27 with member 23 is positioned at and extends over the back of flange 41 instead of extending over the front of flange 41. In FIG. 1, member 23 is positioned at the front of flange 41. When end 25 is attached to top 33 in the manner described just above in this paragraph, then when strap 27 wraps around a user's belt in the direction generally indicated by arrows A and wraps around flange 41, aperture 31 is in registration with tooth 30, tooth 30 extends through aperture 31, and member 22 snaps onto member 23 at the back of flange 41.

In FIG. 1, end 25 is fixedly attached with rivet 24 to the bottom 32 of flange 41 and is at the front of flange 41. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, end 25 is fixedly attached to the top 33 and back of flange 41 with a rivet, and tooth 30 extends outwardly and upwardly from the upper edge 34 of flange 41 instead of from the bottom of flange 41. When end 25 is attached with a rivet, stitching, or other fastening means to top 33 at the back of flange 41, then the portion of strap 27 with member 23 is positioned at and extends over the back of flange 41 instead of extending over the front of flange 41. When end 25 is attached to top 33 in the manner described just above in this paragraph, then when strap 27 wraps around a user's belt in the direction generally indicated by arrows A and wraps around flange 41, aperture 31 is in registration with tooth 30, tooth 30 extends through aperture 31, and member 22 snaps onto member 23 at the back of flange 41.

In FIG. 1, end 25 is fixedly attached with rivet 24 to the bottom 32 of flange 41 and is at the front of flange 41. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, end 25 is fixedly attached to the bottom 32 and back of flange 41 with a rivet or other fastening means, and tooth 30 extends downwardly and outwardly from the bottom 32 of flange 41. When end 25 is attached with a rivet, stitching, or other fastening means to bottom 32 at the back of flange 41, then the portion of strap 27 with member 23 is positioned at and extends over the front of flange 41. When end 25 is attached to bottom 32 at the back of flange 41 the manner just described above in this paragraph, then when strap 27 wraps around a user's belt in the direction generally indicated by arrows A and wraps around flange 41, aperture 31 is in registration with tooth 30, tooth 30 extends through aperture 31, and member 22 snaps onto member 23 at the front of flange 41.

In FIG. 1, when strap 27 is wrapped around a user's belt and member 22 is snapped on to member 23, a portion of strap extends over itself, namely, the portion of strap 27 extending from aperture 31 to member 22 extends over the portion of strap 27 extending from rivet 24 to member 23. In another embodiment of the invention, strap 27 can be shorter and one portion of strap 27 need not extend over another portion of strap 27 when strap 27 is wrapped around a user's belt and is wrapped around flange 41 in the manner generally illustrated in FIG. 2. In this other embodiment of the invention, end 25 of strap 27 is fastened to the top 34 of flange 41 (at either the front or back of flange 41), and member 23 is fastened directly to the middle of the front of flange 41. When strap 27 is wrapped around a user's belt, strap 27 extends (1) from end 25, (2) down along the back of flange 41, (3) around the bottom edge of flange 41, (4) over tooth 30 at the bottom of flange 41 (with aperture 31 in registration with tooth 30 and tooth 30 extending through aperture 31), and (5) up and over the lower portion of the front of flange 41 so that member 22 snaps on to member 23.

In each embodiment of the invention described above, strap 27 extends completely across and over a user's belt, and tooth 30 engages an aperture 31 formed in strap 27 at a point intermediate ends 25 and 26. Member 23 can be secured to strap 27 at a point intermediate ends 25 and 26, or can be secured directly to flange 41. However, securing member 23 directly to the back of flange 41 at a point that would be beneath a belt 50 extending over the back of flange 41 normally is not practical or desirable. Similarly, if a belt 50 extends over the front of flange 41, securing member 23 directly to the front of flange 41 at a point that would be beneath the belt 50 normally is not practical or desirable in the use of the invention. 

1. In combination with a belt worn by an individual, a gun holster including (a) a pocket shaped and dimensioned to receive removably a gun; (b) first and second flanges extending outwardly from said pocket; (c) first and second straps each including (i) a first end, (ii) a second end attached to a different one of said flanges, (iii) a first snap member attached to said first end, (iv) a second snap member attached to said strap intermediate said first and second end and operatively associated with and removably attachable to said first snap member, (v) a tooth formed on a pair including one of said flanges, and said strap, and (vi) an opening formed in said strap intermediate said first snap member and said second snap member and shaped to receive said tooth; said strap being shaped and dimensioned to extend around the user's belt such that said first snap member is attached to said second snap member and said tooth extends into said opening.
 2. In combination with a belt worn by an individual, a gun holster including (a) a pocket shaped and dimensioned to receive removably a gun; (b) first and second flanges extending outwardly from said pocket; (c) first and second straps each including (i) a first end, (ii) a second end attached to a different one of said flanges, (iii) a first snap member attached to said first end, (iv) a second snap member attached to said gun holster operatively associated with and removably attachable to said first snap member, (v) a tooth formed on a pair including one of said flanges, and said strap, and (vi) an opening formed in said strap intermediate said first and second ends and shaped to receive said tooth; said strap being shaped and dimensioned to extend over the user's belt such that said first snap member is attached to said second snap member and said tooth extends into said opening. 